goducks10 wrote:
301TBS wrote:
He has a 2010 F150 with a 5.4. It is equipped with a 6speed automatic.
I had that combo and towed 7200lbs and it shifted more than a GP bike at Laguna Seca.:) No way to lock out gears as the select shift 6sp came on board in 2011.
Kinda sorta expected or thought that would be the case. You are the first
I've read of confirming that
Reason the OEMs are going to close ratio gear boxes are two fold, IMHO
#1 marketing buzzzz. The performance 'cars' have been going that way and
the nail was the small to mid sized econo boxes ditto
#2 EPA SMOG mandates is a 'bit' easier (my guess) if they can tune
the ICE's to an optimal RPM and that is most likely a narrow RPM range
So to keep the ICE's in that narrow RPM range, close ratio gear boxes
is one way. That will then mean the gear boxes (automatics...manuals
will have the driver 'decide' when to shift and which gear) keep the ICE's
in that narrow range.
Load it up hauling and/or towing will have it shift even more trying
to keep it in that optimal RPM range. Lots of folks refer to that
as the 'power band', etc
Close ratio gear boxes were available to big ticket racers long ago
and similar desire...to keep the ICE in it's optimal RPM range, but
not for SMOG, but for power
